Methods of and apparatus for making electrical conductors



Sept. 10, 1957 H. L. WESSEL 2,305,538

METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Filed May 8,1956 A 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. H. L. WESSEL A TTORNEV Sept. 10, 1957H. L. WESSEL 2,805,538

METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Filed May 8,1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. h. L. ms'ssa A T TORNEV rates 2,3fi553fiPatented Sept. 10, 1&5?

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assasss METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FGR ELECTRAL CONDUCTGRS Application May8, 1956, Serial No. 583,470

16 Claims. (63. 5'711) This invention relates to methods of andapparatus for making electrical conductors, and more particularly tomethods of and apparatus for making electrical conductors of the typewherein strands of a filamentary material are wound around a core ofindefinite length.

In the manufacture of electrical conductors for use in thecommunications field, it is common to wind a plurality of flat,conductive strands known as tinsel ribbons around an advancing core oftextile material, such as cotton. The resulting conductor formed therebyis known as a tinsel conductor and is used commonly for telephone cordswhere flexibility and long conductor life are desired. In the past,tinsel conductors have been formed by first wrapping a pair of tinselribbons helically around an advancing cotton core and winding theresultant ribbon-encircled core onto a reel. A second pair of tinselribbons is then wrapped helically over the first pair and the resultanttinsel conductor is wound onto a second takeup reel.

Since the speeds at which the tinsel ribbons'must be wrapped around thecotton core to obtain maximum production result in the tinsel ribbonsbeing wound very tightly therearound, it is desirable to loosen theribbons to increase the flexibility and life of the tinsel conductor. Ithas been common to perform a third operation to loosen the conductors byuntwisting the tinsel ribbons slightly, after which the tinselconductors are covered by a suitable plastic or fibrous material. It canbe seen then, that in the past three distinct operations have been foundnecessary to form a finished tinsel conductor. It would be obviouslyvery desirable if such conductors could be formed in one continuousoperation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improvedmethods of and apparatus for making elect 'cal conductors.

It is another object of the invention to provide new and improvedmethods of and apparatus for making electrical conductors of the typewherein strands of a filamentary material are wound around a core ofindefinite length.

Still another object of the invention is to provide new and improvedmethods of and apparatus for winding a plurality of tinsel ribbonsaround a cotton core and loosening the tinsel ribbons to increase theflexibility of the tinsel conductor formed thereby.

A method of making electrical conductors of the type wherein a strand ofa filamentary material is wound around a core of indefinite length,illustrating certain features of the invention, may include the steps ofsimultaneously advancing such a core longitudinally, rotating the coreabout its longitudinal axis, directing a strand of filamentary materialaround the rotating core so that the longitudinal advancement androtation of the core cause the strand to be Wrapped helically around thecore, winding the strand-encircled core onto a spool and loosening thestrands around the core while winding the strand-encircled core onto thespool.

Apparatus for making electrical conductors of the type wherein a strandof filamentary material is wound around a core of indefinite length,illustrating certain features of the invention, may include means foradvancing such a core longitudinally at a constant speed, means forrotating the core about its longitudinal axis, means for directing sucha strand of material to the core so that the rotation and longitudinaladvancement of the core cause the strand to be wrapped helicallytherearound, takeup means for Winding the strand-encircled core upon aspool and means for loosening the strand around the core as thestrand-encircled core is being wound upon the takeup spool.

More specifically, apparatus embodying the invention may include a baseto which a supply spool of cotton strand is mounted rotatably. Aplurality of driven gears are provided with a pair of the gears causingrotation of the supply spool and the cotton strand leading therefrom.Another of the driven gears rotates a capstan at a speed greater thanthat of the supply spool to cause longitudinal advancement of the cottonstrand, and still another of the driven gears rotates a takeup reel at aspeed which is less than the speed of rotation of the supply spool andthe cotton strand. A plurality of tinsel ribbons are applied to therotating cotton strand and the longitudinal movement of the strandcauses the ribbons to be applied helically therearound. Because of thedifference in speed of rotation between the tinsel ribbon-wrapped cottonstrand and the takeup reel, the tinsel ribbons are loosened and woundupon the takeup reel. A distributing apparatus is provided fordistributing the completed tinsel conductors over the entire length ofthe takeup reel.

The hereinabove listed and other objects and features of the inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description of the specificembodiment of the invention, when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of apparatus embodying the invention formaking electrical conductors and by means of which methods embodying theinvention may be practiced, and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section taken in a planeparallel to the plane of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, a motor1% drives a plurality of gears 11 to 14, inclusive. The motor it), thegears 11 to 14, inclusive, and the remaining structure of the apparatusembodying the invention are mounted upon a base 16 and a verticalsupport 17. The gears 11, 12 and 13 are driven by gears 21, 22 and 23,respectively, which are keyed to a shaft 25. The shaft 25 is rotated bythe motor 10 through a belt 26 extending between the shaft 25 and anoutput shaft 27 associated with the motor 10. The gear 14 is driven by apair of gears 30 and 31, the former of which meshes with the gear 22 andboth of which are mounted on a shaft 32, and an idler gear 35. Thevarious gear rations involved are such that the motor 10 drives both ofthe gears 11 and 12 at a predetermined speed, the gear 13 at a speedgreater than the predetermined speed and the gear 14 at a speed which isless than the predetermined speed.

The gear 11 is keyed to a shaft 36, which is journaled within a pair ofbearings 37 and 38. The upper part of the shaft 36 is formed into anarbor 4%. Referring to Fig. 2, an outer race 41 of the bearing 37 issecured fixedly within a central bore 42 formed in a block 45. The block4-5 is secured to a second block (not shown), welded to the verticalsupport 17, by a pair of bolts 46-46. An inner race 47 of the bearing 37is secured fixedly to the shaft 36 and ballbearings 5l59 are dis- 3posed between the inner race 47 and the outer race fll. The bearing 38is constructed similarly as the bearing 37. As can be seen in Fig. 2,the gear 11 is retained fixedly between the bearings 37 and 33 by aspacersleeve 51 of suitable length.

A plate 52 is mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 36 and is securedfixedly to the shaft 36 for rotation therewith. A cylindrical guidemember 55 havingapertures56 and 57 formed in opposite sides thereof issecured to the rotatable plate '52 by bolts 60--60. A supply package 61of a textile material, such as cotton, a strand 62 of which forms asuitable core for tinsel conductors, is mounted With a friction fit uponthe arbor "40. Such a fit can be provided conveniently by placing a felt:pad 63 between the arbor 40 and the package'61. The-friction fitprovided by the felt pad 63 between the package 61 ahdthe arbor 40 mustbe tight enough thattheapackage 61 is rotated'by the arbor 40 but alsoloose'enough that the package will rotate with respect to the arbor whenthe strand 62 is pulled from the package. A 'pair of spring-loadedtension discs 6464 are also secured within-the guidemember 55 by'suitable'means (not shown).

*An'inclined aperture 65 is. formed within the'plate '52. A bore 66 isformed centrally and longitudinally of the shaft36 and an inclined bore67 is also formed in the shaft 36, the inclined bore 67communicating'with'the inclined aperture 65 in the plate 52 and thecentral bore 66in the shaft 36. a

The driven gear 12 is keyed to a shaft 70,'which is journaled within apair of bearings 71 and 72. The bearings 71 and 72 are secured to thevertical support'17 similarly as the bearing 37 described hereinabove. Aflyer 75 having sheaves 76 and 77 securedrotatably thereto is securedfixedly to the shaft 70 for rotation therewith. The shaft 70 has a bore80 formed centrally and longitudinally along a portion of the lengththereof and a bore 81 which is-inclined with respect to the longitudinalaxis ofthe shaft 70 and which intersects thebore 80. Another bore 82 isformed centrally and longitudinally ofthe shaft 70, with the upper end85 thereof being formed at 90 to the longitudinal portion of the bore 82and communicating with the side of the shaft 70. A-pin 86 is securedwithin the shaft 70 and transversely thereof to guide a strand from thebore 85 to the bore 82. I

The gear 13, which rotates faster than the gears '11 and 12, is securedfixedly to a sleeve 37. The sleeve 87 is mounted upon the shaft 70 androtates independently thereof. A capstan 90 is secured to the gear-13for rotation therewith by a plurality of bolts, such as the bolt 91,shown in Fig. 2. The sheave 76 is so-arranged that it directs a strandfrom the inclined bore 81 to the capstan 90, and the'sheave 77 is soarranged that it directs the strand from the capstan'90 to the pin 86,as will be described more fully hereinafter.

:A plurality of spools 92-92 are disposed between-the lower end of theshaft 36 and the upper end of the shaft '70. The spools '9292 aremounted rotatably upona block 95 which is secured fixedly to the support17 by bolts 9696. Each of the spools 92-92 contains a supply of a flat,metallic, conductive strand 97, referred 'to inthe art as tinsel ribbon.-When tinsel ribbons, such as the strands 9797 are wound helically uponacottou 'core, such as the core 62, the resultant product is termed atinsel conductor. Such a tinsel conductor is shown at 100 in Figs. 1 and2. The tinsel ribbons 97--97 are guided toward the cotton core 62 byaplurality of sheaves 101-401 which are mounted at various levels byposts 102-102 of diiferent lengths. The posts 102'102are -threaded attheir lower-ends and secured within a ringthe core between thespring-loaded tension discs 64-64-.

30 by the motor 10 through the belt 26, the shaft 25 and the gear 22.The gears 30 and 31 are keyed to the shaft 32 which is journaled withinan upper bearing 106 and a lower bearing 107. The upper bearing 106 issimilar in construction to the bearing 37, while the lower bearing 107may be of any suitable type that will provide rotatable support for thelower end of the shaft 32 in the base 16. The intermediate gear 35 andthe driven gear 14 may also be mounted upon the base 16 by any suitablebearing means.

The driven gear 14 is secured fixedly to a cylindrical spindle 110 whichrotates with the gear 14. A takeup spool 111 is mounted detachably uponthe upper end of the spindle 110 by suitable locking means (not shown).Such locking means must secure the takeup spool 111 fixedly to thespindle 110 so that the takeup spool 111 rotates with the spindle and atthe same speed as the gear 14 during a takeup operation. It can be seenthen, that since the shaft 70 is secured to the gear 12 andisince thetakeup spool 111 is 'operably engaged with the gear 14, the takeup spool111 rotates at a slower speed than the'shaft 70 and, hence, at a slowerspeed than the rotational speed of the tinsel conductor 100 as it passesthrough the longitudinal bore 82 in the shaft 70.

A distributor to wind the tinsel conductor evenlyover the whole lengthof the .takeup spool 11'1'is provided, and

includes a distributor ring 112 which surrounds the takeup spool 111 andis slidable vertically on a pair of upright shafts 115-115. The upperends of the shafts 115115 are secured fixedly within blocks 116-416,

bolted to the vertical support 17, and the lower ends 'rod 123-is-secured a'djustably within the bracket 121 by -a-pair of-set screws125-125 and a roller-type cam 40 follower 126 is mounted rotatably tothe lower end of the rod'1-23.

The cam follower 126 engages the periphery of a heart-shaped cam 127which is rotated by a motor 130 through a driving belt 131. The belt 131extends between an output shaft 132 of the motor 130 and a The rod-123is securedto the bracket 121 by the set screws 125125 so that thedistributor 'ring 112 traverses the complete length of the takeupspoollll.

Operation When the tinsel conductor 100 is to be formed, the supplypackage 61 of cotton is placed upon the arbor 40. As stated hereinabove,a friction fit is provided between the package'61 and thearbor 4-0 bythe felt pad 63 so that the package will not only be rotated by thearbor but also can rotate with respect to the arbor. arrangement, thepackage 61 will rotate faster than the -arbor 40 when the strand 62 ispulled from the arbor. The strand 62 of the. cotton forming the core ofthe With this tinsel conductor 100 is threaded through the aperture 56in 'the'guide member 55 to the exterior thereof, around approximatelyone-half of 'the outside periphery of the guide member 55 and directedinto the aperture 57. tortuous path provided for the core 62 places sometension on the core, but the core 62 can be placed in further Thetension, the amount of which can be varied, by passing The-core '62 isthen directed into the aperture 65 in j the plate 52 and into the bores67 and 66 within the shaft "36'. From the bore66 in the shaft 36 thecore 62 is directed'into the central bore 80 and the inclined bore 81within the shaft 70. The'core is then directed over the sheave 76 andwrapped several times around the capstan 90. From the capstan 90, thecore 62 is directed around the sheave 77 and the pin 86 and into thebore 82 of the shaft 70.

As described hereinabove, the gears 11 and 12 are rotated at an equal,predetermined speed. The shafts 36 and 70, therefore, are rotating atthe same speed. Consequently, no twisting of the core 62 occurs betweenthese shafts and only rotation of the core occurs. The gear 13 to whichthe capstan 90 is secured rotates at a speed that is greater than thepredetermined speed of the gears 11 and 12. The faster rotation of thecapstan 9% causes the core 62 to advance longitudinally of the shafts 36and 70 and causes the core 62 to be pulled from the supply package 61.The loose engagement of the package 61 on the arbor 40 permits thepackage to rotate with respect to the arbor and pay out the core 62therefrom. This longitudinal advancement of the core 62 will, of course,be at a constant speed which is determined by the relative speeds ofrotation of the capstan 96 and the shaft 36.

Since the core 62 is not only being advanced longitudinally but also isrotating due to the rotation of the plate 52, the arbor 40 and theshafts 36 and 70, the tinsel ribbons 9797 are pulled from the spools 22and are applied helically around the core 62 to form the tinselconductor 100. It has been found that the speed of the gears 11 and 12must be in the order of approximately 3000 to 4000 R. P. M. in order toobtain maximum production of the tinsel conductors, such as theconductor 1%. With speeds of this magnitude, the tinsel conductor 100that is formed has the tinsel ribbons 9797 wrapped too tightlytherearound. This tight wrapping of the tinsel ribbons 9797 around thecore 62 is necessary, however, to form the tinsel conductor 100 properlyand obtain maximum production of the tinsel conductors.

In order to increase the flexibility of the tinsel conductor 109, thetinsel ribbons 97-97 must be loosened around the core 62. For thispurpose, the takeup spool 111 is rotated at a speed less than thepredetermined speed of the gears 11 and 12. Since the shaft 70, fromwhich the tinsel conductor 1% is passing to the takeup spool 111, isrotating at the speed of the gears 11 and 12, and since the takeup spool111 is rotating at the slower speed of the gear 14, loosening of thetinsel conductor 1% will occur between the lower end of the shaft 70 andthe upper end of the takeup spool 111. one practical embodiment of theinvention, the gears and 12 were rotated at approximately 3000 R. P. l/l., and the gear 13 which rotates the capstan 90 was rotated atapproximately 3015 R. P. M. To loosen the tinsel conductor 100 asufiicient amount for the purposes of acquiring a suitably-flexibleconductor the gear 14 and the takeup spool 111 were rotated at a speedof approximately 2700 R. P. M.

It can be seen that by using the apparatus embodying the invention, anygiven amount of loosening of the tinsel conductor 1% can be obtained bysimply changing the various gear ratios involved with respect to thegear 14, driving the takeup spool 111, and the gears 11 and 12 whichrotate the tinsel conductor 10%. If no loosening of the tinsel conductor160 is desired, the gear 1 is driven at the same speed as the gears 11and 12. However, in order to obtain maximum production the gears 11 and12 must be driven at such hi h speeds the tins l ribbons 9797 are woundtoo tightly around the cotton core 62. Therefore, from a practical,manufacturing standpoint, loosening of the tinsel conductor 1:30 must beprovided.

Since the talteup spool 111 is rotating, the tinsel conductor 1% iswound thereon with the traveler 117 being pulled around the innerperiphery 12d of the distributor ring 112 by the conductor 1%. Thecapstan 95 is designed to feed the tinsel conductor 16% slightly slowerthan the takeup spool 111 can receive the conductor. Since the capstanis feeding less of the conductor 100 than the takeup spool 111 canreceive, the traveler 117 must unwind the difference between the amountof the conductor fed to the takeup spool and the amount wound thereon inany given length of time. Consequently, the speed at which the traveler117 is moving is slightly less than the speed of rotation of the takeupspool 111 and depends upon the linear speed of the tinsel conductor 100,the speed of rotation of the takeup spool 111 and the circumferen e ofthe conductor 100 on the takeup spool iii. This small difference inspeed introduces further a slight loosening, which is negligible, in thetinsel conductor 10%}.

As mentioned hereinabove, the motor 130 is rotated at a slow speed torotate the cam 127, move the distributor ring up and down and cause aneven distribution of the loosened and flexible tinsel conductor 100along the complete length of the takeup spool 111'. As the tinselconductor 100 builds up on the takeup spool 111, the circumference ofthe takeup spool 111 with the conductor 1813 thereon increases and,hence, the speed at which the traveler 117 is being pulled around theinner periphery of the distributor 112 varies slightly. From a practicalstandpoint, the slight difierence in speed between the traveler 117 andthe takeup spool 111, both with an empty and a full spool 111, isnegligible and introduces a negligible amount of loosening in theconductor 100.

For example, with the particular speeds described hereinabove, includinga speed of 2700 R. P. M. for the takeup spool 7.11, and with an emptyspool 111 of 9" circumference and a full spool of 18" circumference, thespeed of the traveler with the takeup spool 111 empty would beapproximately 2687 R. P. M. and the speed of the traveler when thetakeup spool 111 is full wound be approximately 2693 R. P. M. Therefore,an untwist per foot introduced into the tinsel conductor 100 would varyby approximately 6 twists for every 10 feet of conductor 100, the linearspeed of the conductor being constant at 10 feet per minute.Consequently, the loosening introduced by variation in the speed of thetraveler would only cause an untwisting of the conductor of 0.050 twistper inch, a n lgible factor.

it can be seen then, that with the apparatus embodying the invention,the three distinct operations that have been required previously to forma tinsel conductor, such as the conductor 160, are not necessary. Withthe apparatus embodying the invention, a tinsel conductor 100 can beproperly formed at the usual high speeds to obtain the maximumproduction possible. Also, such apparatus causes a loosening of thetinsel ribbons 97--97 after the ribbons have been wound upon the core 62so that the flexibility and the life of the tinsel conductor 100 isincreased materially.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodimerit of theinvention is merely illustrative of the principles thereof and thatnumerous modifications and embodiments of the invention may be devisedwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of making electrical conductors of the type wherein a strandof a filamentary material is wound a core of indefinite length, whichcomprises the steps of simultaneously advancing such a corelongitudinally, rotating the core about its longitudinal axis, directinga strand of filamentary material around the rotating core so that thelongitudinal advancement and rotation of the core cause the strand to bewrapped helically around the core, winding the strand-encircled coreonto a spool, and loosening the strand around the core while winding thestrand-encircled core onto the spool.

2. A method of making electrical conductors, which comprises the stepsof simultaneously advancing a core accuses of indefinite length alongits longitudinal axis, rotating the core about its axis, directing astrand of filamentary material around the core so that the strand iswound helically therearound, winding the strand-encircled core onto atakeup spool, and rotating the takeup spool at a speed lower than therotative speed of the core to loosen the strand wound therearound.

3. A method of winding a strand of a filamentary material around a coreof indefinite length, which comprises the steps of simultaneouslyrotating such a core about its longitudinal axis, directing such astrand to the rotating core, advancing the core along .its longitudinalaxis so that the strand is wound helically therearound, winding thestrand-encircled coreonto a takeup spool, and rotating the takeupspoolabout the axis of the core at a lower speed than the rotative speed ofthe core to loosen the strand around the core.

4. A method of winding a plurality of strands of a filamentary'materialaround a core of indefinite length, whichcomprises the steps ofsimultaneously advancing such a core longitudinally, rotating the coreabout its longitudinal axis, directing a plurality of strands offilamentar'y material around the rotating core so that thelongitudinaladvancement and rotation of the core cause the strands to'bewrapped i lically therearound, winding the strand-encircled core onto aspool, and loosening the strands aroundthe core While winding thestrand-encircled core onto'the spool. i

5. A method of making electrical conductors, which comprises the stepsofsimultaneously advancing a core of indefinite length alongits'longitudinal axis, rotating the core about its axis, directing aplurality of strands of filamentary material around the core so. thatthe strands are wound helically therearound, winding thestrand-encircled core ontoatakeup spool, and rotating the takeup spoolataspeed lower than therotative speed of the core to loosen the.strands'wound therearound.

6. A method of winding a plurality of strands of a filamentary materialaround a core of indefinite length, which comprises the steps ofsimultaneously rotating such a core about its longitudinal axis,directing such a plurality of strands to the rotating core, advancingthe core along its longitudinal axis so that the strands are woundhelically therearound, winding the strand-encircled core onto a takeupspool, and rotating the takeup spool about the axis of the core at alower speed than the rotative speed of the core to loosen the strandsaround the core.

7. A method of making electrical conductors, which comprises the stepsof simultaneously advancing a core of indefinite length alon itslongitudinal axis, rotating the core about its lon itudinal axis at apredetermined speed, directing a pinty of strands of filamentarymaterial toward the advancing and rotating core such that the rotationand longitudinal advancement of the core cause the strands to be woundhelically therearound, winding the strand-encircled core onto a takeupreel having its, axis of rotation coincident with the longitudinal axisof the core, and rotating the talteup reel at a lower speed than thespeedof rotation of the core to loosen the strands encircling the core.

8. Apparatus for making electrical conductors of the typewherein astrand of material is wound around a core of indefinite length, whichcomprises means for advancing such a core longitudinally at a constantspeed, means for rotating the core about its longitudinal axis, meansthe takeup spool,

9. Apparatus for making electrical conductors, which comprises .meansfor mounting rctatably' a supply of a core of indefinite length, meansfor rotating the core about its longitudinal axis, means for advancingthe core longitudinally at a constant speed, means for supplying astrand of filamentary material, means for directing the strand aroundthe advancing and rotating core so that the stand is wound helicallytherearound, a takeup spool for receiving the strand-encircled core, andmeans for rotating the takeup spool'at a speed lower than the rotativespeed of the core to loosen the strand wound there around.

10. Apparatus for making electrical conductors of the type wherein aplurality of strands of material are wound around a core of indefinitelength, which comprises means for advancing such a core longitudinallyat a constant speed, means for rotating the core about its longitudinalaxis, means for directing such strands of material to the core so thatthe rotation and longitudinal advancement of the core cause the strandsto be wrapped helically therearound, takeup means for wind ing thestrand-encircled core upon a spool, and means for loosening the strandsaround the core as the strandencircled core is being wound upon the takeup spool.

11. Apparatus for making electrical conductors which comprises meansform'ounting rotatably a supply of a core of indefinite length, meansfor rotating the core about its longitudinal axis, means for advancingthe core longitudinally at a constant speed, means for supplying aplurality of strands of filamentary material, means for directingthe'strands around the advancing and rotating core so that the strandsare wound helically therearound, a takeupspool for receiving thestrand-encircled core, and means for rotating the t'akeup spool at aspeed lower than the rotative speed of the core to loosen the strandswound therearound. p a f 12. Apparatus for winding a plurality ofstrands of a filamentary material around'a coreof indefinite length,which comprises means for rotating such a core about its longitudinalaxis, means for advancing the core along its longitudinal axis at aconstant speed, means for directing such strands of filamentary materialto the core so that the rotation and longitudinal advancement thereofcause the strands to be wrapped helically therearound, a takeup spoolonto which the strand-encircled core is wound mounted rotatably alongthe axis of the strand, and means for rotating the takeup spool at alower speed than that of the core to cause loosening of the strandsaround the core.

13. Apparatus for making electrical conductors, which comprises meansfor supplying a core of indefinite length, means for advancing the corelongitudinally at a constant speed, means for rotating the core aboutits longitudinal axis at a predetermined speed, means for supplying aplurality of strands of filamentary material, means for directing thestrands onto the advancing and rotating core such that they are woundhelically therearound, a takeup spool mounted rotatably with its axis ofrotation coincident with the longitudinal axis of the core, means forguiding the filament-encircled core to the takeup spool so that the coreis wound thereon, and means for rotating the takeup spool about its axisat a lower speed than the speed of rotation of the core to loosen thestrands encircling the core.

14. Apparatus for Winding a plurality of strands of filamentary materialaround a core of indefinite length, which comprises a rotatably-mountedarbor on which a supply of such a core is mounted loosely, a capstanaround which the core is wrapped mounted for rotation about an axiscoincident with the axis of the arbor, a takeup spool mounted rotatablyabout an axis coincident with axes of the arbor and the capstan, drivingmeans for rotating the arbor and the core at a predeterined speed, thecapstan at a speed greater than the predetermined speed and the takeupspool at a speed less than the predetermined speed, means for supportinga plurality of supplies of strands of filamentary material, and meansforguiding the strands onto the core, the

difference in the speeds of rotation between the arbor and the capstancausing longitudinal advancement of the core at a constant speed, therotation and longitudinal advancement of the core causing the strands tobe wound helically around the core, and the dilierence in the speeds ofrotation between the arbor and the takeup spool causing loosening of thestrands around the core to increase the flexibility thereof.

15. Apparatus for winding a plurality of strands of a filamentarymaterial around a core of indefinite length, which comprises arotatably-mounted arbor on which a supply of such a core is mountedloosely, the arbor having a longitudinal bore formed therein throughwhich the core is passed, a shaft mounted rotatably along the axis ofrotation of the arbor and having a longitudinal bore formed thereinthrough which the core is passed, means for rotating the arbor and theshaft at a predetermined speed, means for supporting a plurality ofsupplies of filamentary material between the arbor and the shaft, arotatablymounted capstan having its axis of rotation coincident with theaxes of the arbor and the shaft, means for rotating the capstan at agreater speed than the speed of the arbor and the shaft for causinglongitudinal advancement of the core at a constant speed, guide meansfor directing the strands of filamentary material to the core, therotation and longitudinal advancement of the core causing the strands tobe Wrapped helically around the core, a rotatably-mounted takeup spoolhaving its axis of rotation coincident with the axes of the arbor and ofthe shaft for receiving the strand-wrapped core, and means for rotatingthe takeup spool in the same direction and at a lower speed than thespeed of the arbor and shaft to loosen the strands encircling the core.

16. Apparatus for wrapping a plurality of tinsel ribbons around atextile strand of indefinite length to form a tinsel conductor, whichcomprises a base, an arbor mounted rotatably upon the base and having acentral bore formed longitudinally therethrough, the arbor beingdesigned to secure a supply of the textile strand loosely thereon withthe strand being passed through the longitudinal bore within the arbor,a first driven gear keyed to the arbor for rotation therewith, a shaftmounted rotatably to the base and coaxially with respect to the arbor,the shaft having a pair of bores formed longitudinally therethrough, asecond driven gear keyed to the shaft for rotation therewith, means forsupporting a plurality of supply spools of tinsel ribbons rotatably tothe base between the arbor and the shaft, a plurality of guiding memberssecured rotatably adjacent to the supply spools of tinsel ribbons witheach member directing one of the ribbons toward the textile strand sothat the ribbons are wound helically around the textile strand, acapstan mounted coaxi-ally upon the shaft for independent rotation withrespect thereto, a third driven gear keyed to the capstan for rotationtherewith, a pair of sheaves secured rotatably to the shaft and soarranged that one of the sheaves directs the ribbon-wrapped strand fromone of the bores on the shaft to the capstan and the second sheavedirects the strand from the capstan to the second bore in the shaft, aspindle mounted rotatably to the base, a fourth driven gear secured tothe spindle for rotation therewith, a takeup spool for receiving theribbon-Wrapped strand secured detachably to the spindle for rotationtherewith such that its axis of rotation is coincident with the axes ofthe arbor and the shaft, a distributor ring mounted for reciprocalmovement upon the base and concentrically with respect to the takeupspool, cam means for reciprocating the distributor ring over the lengthof takeup spool, a traveler mounted slidably upon the distributor ringand designed to revolve about the axis of the takeup spool for directingthe ribbonwr-apped strand therearound, a plurality of driving gearsmounted rotatably to the base and cooperating with the driven gears, thedriving and driven gears having gear ratios such that the first andsecond gears are driven at a predetermined speed, the third gear isdriven at a greater speed than the predetermined speed and the fourthgear is driven at a speed less than the predetermined speed, and a motorfor rotating the driving gears.

No references cited.

